Fighting lethargy takes energy. Sometimes I have it and sometimes I don’t. If circumstances permitted, I would have crawled back into bed this morning, as Pete did. He has bronchitis. He slept until noon. I have a gum/implant issue and a burnt lip. I was treating the gum with an essential oil, and it was too hot. Just now, after three days, the lip is beginning to heal.

I didn’t go back to bed. I hoofed it to town and checked in at the hotel; then I went and got gas, and then I went to the Palmer Chamber of Commerce luncheon. I was joined by our partners, Amy who runs the Alaska Literacy Program and Hally who is with Kid’s Kupboard. It was nice to have company.

The luncheon entertainment consisted of Palmer city council and mayoral candidates. They were given questions to answer by the head dude at Big Cabbage Radio. As they spoke, for well over an hour, I worked on my posture and breathing. And lo and behold, when I stood up, I was not stiff or sore. In fact, I felt as though I had just gotten out of the hot tub at the pool.

The final question concerned the Palmer Public Library and their thoughts on this matter. All of course are pro library. I found myself wishing that we’d gotten a nod because we are now providing a much needed service. And I do worry that when the new library opens, there might be a decrease in our readership. But then again, we might be (as Logan, our videographer once said) providing a need that readers didn’t know existed. And they may continue to want free books. We have another year, so we’ll see what happens.

After, I went up to and talked to two of the candidates and reminded them about the project. I say reminded because they knew about us. Doing this reminded me of going to conferences when I was doing graduate work – these individuals were looking over my shoulders and to the right and left, perhaps thinking that someone more important was in the wings. I’m no fool, I see it happening. Well none of these bozos are going to get my vote because I do not live in Palmer, and therefore I am ineligible to vote for them.

I proceeded to the pool, and George the lifeguard gave me an assist loading up the shelves. In the next few days, I’m going to give him a box of books and tell him that he’s the Palmer Public Pool Bookcase Guardian.

It is going well with the project except for the fact that I do get discouraged, particularly when I see what other organizations are doing, and what grants they are getting. The problem is that there is just one of me and I can do no more than continue to make sure that books get into the hands of appreciative readers.

I am, however, most amazed by Pete who is so tenacious. He just does not give up. No, no, no, he is like a Pitbull hanging onto a piece of meat. And it’s his persistence that keeps me going.

Next: 258. 9/25/25: Hole in the Ground